So what's the deal CPS?

In Maryland, a family is being vilified by the local authorities. Their children were taken from them for a few hours and the local CPS has given an unofficial report on them. Their crime? Letting the children walk home from the park. They are the Meitiv family and are self proclaimed Free Range Parents.

So why is Maryland persecuting the Meitivs? Why aren't the state and county dealing with the 4 in 1000 kids who are victims of abuse including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse?  Just to give you an idea of how many that is, according to the 2010 Census of Montgomery County there were almost 154,000 children in this county alone.  In Maryland that year there were almost a million.  The 4:1000 ratio means  618 children are suffering from REAL ABUSE in Montgomery County.(See table below for state figures)  Not the made-up abuse CPS and the County Police don't want to back down on.  Real children sufferering actual abuse.  While CPS and the MoCo Police are wasting their time on the Meitivs, real offenders are harming children.

There is a big debate going on right now about whether or not the Meitiv children are being put in danger by letting them walk home from the park. The answer is resoundingly "no". Even the state couldn't officially say that the children were in danger.  Maryland's CPS seems to think that the Meitiv's put their children at risk for abduction and worse citing them for being, get this, responsible for unsubstantiated neglect.  I don't get it.  How can you be responsible for unproven things?

But for argument's sake, let's look at some numbers, shall we? And ChildFind of America reports on Familial vs. Stranger abductions:

“An estimated 203,900 children were victims of a family abduction in 1999. A family abduction occurs when a family member takes or keeps a child in violation of the custodial parent's/guardian's legitimate rights." 78% of abductors are the non-custodial parent."

This is what ChildFind says about NON-family abductions:

“An estimated 58,200 children were victims of a non-family abduction in 1999.   Non-family abductions occur when someone who is not a relative abducts and detains a child without lawful authority or parental permission with the intention to keep the child permanently.  In 1999 there were also  115 stereotypical  kidnappings.  A  stereotypical kidnapping occurs when a stranger or slight acquaintance transports a child 50 miles or more from home and either kills the child, holds the child for ransom, or intends to keep the child permanently. "

Fifty thousand children is A LOT of children. One is too many, I don't know of anyone that is in disagreement with that statement.   

The "Mother of the Year", Mama June.

But abduction isn't the only evil thing, there are also sexual predators that tie into abductions right? That issue with the Duggar Heir molesting his sisters and Mama June Shannon knowingly allowing her children to be around not one, but TWO sexual predators.  Both are responsible for substantiated ABUSE.

The National Sex Offender Public Website, or NSOPW, reports this: 

• An estimated 60% of perpetrators of sexual abuse are known to the child but are not family members, e.g., family friends, babysitters, child care providers, neighbors.  

• About 30% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse are family members. 

• Only about 10% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse  are strangers to the child.  

• Not all perpetrators are adults—an estimated 23% of reported cases of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by individuals under the age of 18.

Wait just one minute. Ten percent are strangers?  TEN?  These websites are telling me that NINETY PERCENT of sexual abusers are family or trusted people?  So what about that video that was viral where a man named Joe and his cute fluffy white dog went up to a kid and "snatched" him or her? That shows how easily a child can be taken right?  Clearly YouTube is the authority and not NSOPW.  But actually, no.  Maryland and Montgomery County, you should take note:

According to “Have Sexual Abuse and Physical Abuse Declined Since the 1990s?” an article released by the Crimes Against Children Research Center in 2012, there was a 56% decline in physical abuse and a 62% decline in sexual abuse from 1992 to 2010. And, 

Despite some skepticism of reporting methods by various agencies, declines in child physical and sexual abuse since the 1990s, as reported to National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), reflect a true decline in prevalence. 

The decline in sexual abuse in NCANDS was consistent with other data sources. 

So there you have it.  Those are the facts. Our world is NOT more dangerous. There aren't strangers lurking in every corner at every park. The molesters, abusers and abductors of our children are US. Our sisters, brothers, spouses and caregivers. Terrifying isn't it?

It's a sad day in our society when a neighbor sees these kids walking home from a park and decides they are being abused and yet, daily, people tune into "Honey Boo Boo", "Toddlers & Tiaras" and "16 & Pregnant". (Basically, TLC, MTV and all the other educational channels)

Why don't we, instead, focus on helping children like the Duggar's daughters, or Alana's sister who was molested by one of her mothers boyfriends?  Why don't we get involved then?  Instead of being overly concerned nosy busy bodies about clearly well cared for children?

If you are interested in helping the Meitivs and staying current in the case with Montgomery County, MD, please visit the family's Facebook page.  If you wish to help out their legal defense, please visit this post on Facebook or here to donate directly.

To learn more about the frequency of abductions and abuse in your state, and to find out where and how you can do something to help, please visit these links below:

Child Welfare League of America - State by state statistics
National and State Child Abuse and NeglectStatistics
Child Maltreatment 2012
Child Find of America
FBI - Violent Crimes AgainstChildren
PollyKlaas.org